Not currently on display at the V&A

Bowl

1850-1900 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Bowl of porcelain, painted in overglaze polychrome enamels and gilt. The outside is decorated with four medallions, containing the four characters, fu lu shou xi (Happiness, rank, long life and joy), each surrounded by bats within a border of sceptre-heads, reserved in white on a ground painted to imitate cloisonné enamel with a swastika diaper in red outline on yellow. The inside is decorated with a diaper of the flowers, fruit, foliage and tendrils of a gourd on a red ground. Mark of a brush (bi), an ingot (ding) and a ruyi-sceptre, tied with ribbons, forming a rebus bi ding ruyi signifying "may all certainly be as you desire."


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Porcelain painted in overglaze polychrome enamels and gilt
Brief description
Bowl, porcelain painted in overglaze polychrome enamels and gilt, in imitation of cloisonné enamel, China, Qing dynasty
Physical description
Bowl of porcelain, painted in overglaze polychrome enamels and gilt. The outside is decorated with four medallions, containing the four characters, fu lu shou xi (Happiness, rank, long life and joy), each surrounded by bats within a border of sceptre-heads, reserved in white on a ground painted to imitate cloisonné enamel with a swastika diaper in red outline on yellow. The inside is decorated with a diaper of the flowers, fruit, foliage and tendrils of a gourd on a red ground. Mark of a brush (bi), an ingot (ding) and a ruyi-sceptre, tied with ribbons, forming a rebus bi ding ruyi signifying "may all certainly be as you desire."
Dimensions
  • Height: 8.3cm
  • Diameter: 13cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'fu lu shou xi' inscribed on the outside within medallions
    Translation
    Happiness, rank, long life and joy
  • Mark of a brush (bi), an ingot (ding) and a ruyi-sceptre, tied with ribbons, forming a rebus bi ding ruyi signifying "may all certainly be as you desire"
  • Transliteration
    .
Credit line
Given by Mr Andrew Burman
Object history
Given by Mr. Andrew Burman, accessioned in 1909. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Production
MW checked
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
C.762-1909

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Record createdFebruary 11, 2009
Record URL
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